We'll stick together, says Tex

Message from The CaptainThe captain of the Adelaide Football Club, Taylor Walker speaks of the late Phil Walsh.

It’s a pretty numb feeling at the moment.

Taylor Walker

Crows captain Taylor Walker has described the “numb” feeling amongst the players in the wake of coach Phil Walsh’s sudden passing, vowing the Club will stick together to overcome the tragedy.

The Adelaide players were informed of Walsh’s death early on Friday morning. The playing group, coaches and entire Crows staff have been provided counselling to help come to terms with the loss. The AFL made the decision to cancel Sunday’s scheduled game between Adelaide and Geelong to allow the players time to grieve.

The players gathered at the Club on Saturday morning for a meeting and light kick on AAMI Stadium. Walker said the tight-knit football environment would be invaluable in the grieving process.

“We’re pretty lucky to be in a footy club because it’s an environment where we stick together and lean on each other,” Walker said on Saturday.

“When we heard the news, everyone took it their own way but it’s a pretty numb feeling at the moment. When you lose your head honcho, it hits you pretty hard.”

The support from the football, sporting and wider communities since the news broke has been overwhelming.

Walker said the reaction was testament to Walsh’s impact on not only the Adelaide Football Club, but every club and person he’d touched in his football career and life.

“I think you only have to look at the support we’ve had over the last 24 hours from external people,” he said.

“He (had the) ability to come in (to our Club), and in nine months have an influence on every single person and that’s not only the players but admin staff and support staff at this footy club.

“He’s just a great man and one that I started to fall in love with.”

Walker said the players and coaches had started to reflect on their memories of Walsh.

“I had many conversations with him. One that sticks in my mind is when he told me not to ring him after eight o’clock because that’s his bed time,” Walker said.

“There are a lot of stories like that. Over the next week, two weeks and however long it takes, I’ll sit back and reflect on the memories and what I experienced with Walshy.”